Mr Cann said: "We are pursuing the final phase, which is a community hall providing warden accommodation.

"I think we get someone on site permanently we are going to get vandalism and rubbish left - it's an absolute nightmare and is spoiling it for everyone."

Mr Cann said he was called to the field on Thursday to see the vandalised dugouts, which are provided by the football clubs.

On Friday he returned to find the precariously stacked blocks, which he said were incredibly dangerous and reported them to the council immediately.

He added: "This facility is one of the most used in North Devon, I think we have something like 14 teams using it, everything from seniors down to juniors - it's an important amenity for the area.

"The fences are torn down. The club had only repaired the two dugouts and then within 10 days one of them was virtually destroyed, it's an unacceptable situation. The local residents association has rightly complained about the state of the field and the dugouts.

"Unless we can bring in an on site warden to control the situation it's going to be an ongoing problem, which can only get worse as more developments take place around here.

"At the moment it costs the tax payer in Fremington something like £11,000 a year to run it and maintain it.

"Long term, I believe having a community facility here would help pay for the cost of the field."

About North Devon Gazette

First published in 1856 as the Bideford Gazette, the North Devon Gazette is the free newspaper and website for the region, covering a vast area from Hartland in the west to Lynton in the east and to South Molton and Holsworthy in the south.